Improvement in centrifugal guns



c. B. THAYER.

" Machine Gun.

Patented Aug. 3, 1858.

l ii'HllllHl NTTEJD' STATES PATENT Drama.

0. n. ru'avna, or BOSTON, AssieNon cro HIMSELF .AND CHARLES ROBIN- son,or CAMBRIDGEPORT, MAssAcnusnrrs.

IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL GU NS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 21,109, dated August1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (1.13. THAYER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved CentrifugalGun for Throwing Projectiles; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification- Figure 1 beinga vertical section of the machine in the plan, indicated by the line yy, Fig. 2; Fi 2, a horizontal sectionin the plane indicated by the lineor :0, Fig.1; Fig.3, an

elevation of the machine.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The principal parts of my machine for throwing projectiles bycentrifugal force are a strong ring or short cylinder, A, mounted on asuitable base or support,B, and a revolving thrower, G, mounted on ashaft or spindle, G, by the rapid revolutions and consequentlyswiftmotion of which the required velocity is imparted to theprojectiles. The ring A is arranged so as to be retained firmly and beturned freely in aposition exactlyconcentrio with thethrower O, the meth0d of accomplishing which is clearly seen in Fig. 1. Its lower edge fitsin a circular rabbet or recess in the base B, and it is held down byclips i i, attached to said base and fitting into a. circular groove, 1,in its outer periphery. In order to turn it in any directionhorizontally for aiming at different points of the compass, a circularrack, 0', Fig. 1, may be secured in its lower surface, into which maygear a pinion, 8, turned by means of a winch, L. (Seen in Fig. 3.)

To give the slight vertical range required in aiming at an object, thewhole machine may have a slight vertical movement; or any otherconvenient means may be employed.

For throwing projectiles to a great distance, wherein a high range isrequired, the machine may beplaced in a vertical instead of a horizontalposition.

The discharging-orifice f terminates in a suitable muzzle, E, as shownin Fig. 2.

A. spiral cylindrical groove, d, is formed in the inner periphery of thering A, being about equal to one circumference(more or less) in length,and beginning, as at 'm, Fig. 1, at a height just above and so as not tointerfere with or extend into its termination n, where it leads to theorificef, which is only a continuation of the groovein a direct tangentline through the ring, as represented in Fig. 2. From its commencingpoint m, where it has no depth, the groove gradually deepens till at itstermination n it reaches a depth equal to its entire diameter, whichshould be sufficient to admit the size of ball or projectile required.

Thethrower 0 may have the form ot'doublecurved arms, as shown in Fig. 2,or of a complete disk, as may be preferred. It has a cup-shaped hollow,a, in its center, above which a suitable tunnel or hopper, D, issituated torcceive the projectiles when first placed in the machine.From the central cavity, a, tubular apertures b I) extend to the ends ofthe arms, as shown in Fig. 2, curving forward in the direction of themotion to be given to the arms sufficiently to retard the passage of theprojectiles from the center to the extremities of the arms till theygradually acquire the rapid motion of said extremities, so as not toproduce any shock or concussion in the machine. These aperturesterminate at the exact height of the commencing point m of the spiralgroove d. Hence, when a ball or projectile reaches the ring, as soon asit is brought opposite the commencement of the groove it enters thereinand is led along the groove and retained therein, at first bycentrifugal force, 'till the groove becomes deep enough to permit theball 19 to drop partially down by the end of the arm of the thrower, asseen at g on the left in Fig. 2. The space 9 between the arm and theinner periphery is not sufticient to let the ball pass; but as theprojectile enters the groove it sinks gradually behind the ends of thearm till near the termination of the groove it passes entirely off ofthe arm, being supported and held by the groove itself, as seen on theright in Fig. 2. Thus the groove receives and unerringly conveys eachprojectile to the orifice f without danger of misdirection or ofstriking the inner edge of the orifice. A heel or projection, h, behindeach aperture b b and reaching nearly or quite to the inner periphery ofthe ring, serves to move the projectile around and finally throw itforward at the outlet.

The balls may be placed in the machinea-t any time Without care, andeven numbers may be in the machine at the same moment, only one beingallowed to issue from each arm at each revolution.

The motion maybe communicated to the thrower by means of a band I,passing from the driving-wheel of a steam-engine. horsepower, or othersuitable motor to a pulley, H, on the spindle G of said thrower.

It is obvious that a sufficient speed may be given to the extremities ofthrower to hurl the projectiles sired velocity. Balls of any bullets tothatof many pound in this machine, the size of space g, groove d, andorifice suit the size of ball required.

the arms of the with any desize, from thatof s, may be thrown theaperture b b, fbeing made to What I claim as my invention; and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The spiral groove d, arranged substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the spiral groove d, the space g and heel h atthe extremity of each arm or aperture of the thrower, arranged andoperating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein setforth.

The above specification of my improved centrifugal gun for throwingprojectiles signed by me this 17th day of May, 1858.

O. B. THAYER.

Witnesses:

G. P. J UDD, OHAs. ROBINSON.

